September 13, 2016 at
9:10 PM

Baseball America has named Yoan Moncada(pictured, right) its Minor League Player of the Year. The 21-year-old infielder has had a meteoric rise throughout the Red Sox system in 2016, starting with High-A Salem, eventually leading to his promotion to Boston a little under two weeks ago.

Moncada, who was originally signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2015, has consistently been ranked as one of the top prospects in all of baseball and is currently ranked the #1 prospect in the Red Sox system by SoxProspects.com. In 106 games with Salem and Double-A Portland, Moncada hit .294/.407/.511 with 15 home runs, 31 doubles, 62 RBI, and 45 stolen bases.

Among the highlights of Moncada's season was his MVP performance at the MLB Futures Game. He went 2 for 5 with a two-run home run in that showcase, also flashing some leather on defense in robbing his Sea Dogs teammate, Andrew Benintendi, of a hit.

Moncada has gotten off to a slow start in his initial taste of major league action, going just 4 for 19 with 12 strikeouts. Moncada will highlight a contingent of seven players who will participate in Arizona Fall League action starting next month as he continues his transition to third base.